Off-Broadway Theaters and Comedy Clubs to Visit in NYC

All work and no play is no way to spend the day. Fortunately, New York City is full of fabulous off-Broadway theaters and comedy clubs where people can kick up their feet and relax when the workday is done. Every day of the week, the city’s stages are lit up and ready to entertain.

Looking for the crème de la crème of the creative? Look no further than this fabulous troupe. Among the oldest theater companies in the city, they have won so many Obie and Bessie awards over the years that they have lost count. Not content to stay in one place, the group moves around the city to keep things interesting.

Oh-Kla-Homa, where the laughs keep rolling down the plains. Or, something like that. It seems only fitting that one of the most recited Broadway lines in history inspired The Nature Theater of Oklahoma to open their doors to whatever might tumble through. Directed by the talented duo of Pavol Liska and Kelly Copper, their plays are anything but ordinary. They are real, down to earth, and unlike anything else you will see this side of the prairie.

It may be an election year, but the most exciting debates aren’t taking place on the television. This year’s hottest action can only be seen on the Brooklyn stage The Debate Society is lighting up. Founded by two ex-lovers who love and hate one another in the same breath, their shows are smart, witty, emotionally charged and intellectually stimulating. Unabashed, and unafraid, the performances on their stage are high-brow entertainment that shouldn’t be missed.

Feeling nostalgic for a blast from the past? Caroline’s remains one of the hottest comedy clubs in the Big Apple, and the comics taking to the stage are eager to prove they can still take a bite out of it. The club also hosts the hottest up-and-comers hoping to climb to the lofty heights their predecessors have achieved. A popular Times Square venue since the early 1980s, the place is packed throughout the week so be sure to get tickets early.

Joker approved, the Gotham Comedy Club has hosted everyone from Larry David to Jerry Seinfeld. It’s possible to see Dane Cook, Dave Chappelle, and many others here. Colin Quinn also graces the stage from time to time. Best of all, those who think they have what it takes to join the ranks of the professionals can sign-up for classes and learn how America’s most beloved comics do what they do.

Fans of improv comedy will fall in love with the crew at the Upright Citizens Brigade. Their shows often feature the cast of SNL and some of the most talented comedy writers in the country. Witty, raw, and unplanned, this is where real comedians show their skills as master performers. It is a fabulous place to get up close to some truly talented comedians without having to reach for the remote first.

Did we miss any of your favorite spots? Let us know in the comments below.

Off-Broadway Theaters and Comedy Clubs to Visit in NYC was last modified: April 5th, 2016 by Sam Christie